Terminal clamp for storage batteries



Nov. 1-3, 1928.

R. J. NIG H TINGALE TERMINAL CLAMP FOR STORAGE BATTERIES Filed April 10 1922 unisa Nov 13,1928. 1,691,079

' UNITED STA OFF-ICE.

J. F'IGHTIJTGALE, EAST CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO AGE BATTERY COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A COBBORATION OF GIIIA.

TERMINAL CLAMP FOB STORAGE BATTERIES.

Tss PATE T Application filed April 10, 1922. Serial No. 551,084.

This invention relates to a terminal clamp aligned openings 14 and 15 to'accommodate for storage batteries, and has for'its chlef object to provide a clamp by which good electrical connection may be made between a conductor and the terminal post of a battery, with a clamp which may be produced lIlQX pensively. More particularly, it is the aim of the invention to provide an efficient clamp made from sheet metal. Stillfurther the in- 10 vention aims to provide a sheet metal clamp v adapted particularly for small batteries such as a radio battery. v I

' The invention may be briefl summarized as consisting in certain novel etails of construction, and combinations and arrangements of parts which will be described in the specification and pointed out in the appended 7 claims. i

In the accompanyin sheet of drawings, Fig. 1 is a side view '0 my improved clamp applied to a terminal post'and conductor; Fig.2 is a plan view the same; Fig. 3 1s a sectional view along the-line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is asection along the line 4-4 0% Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is a section along the line 5 5ofFig.3. Referring now to the drawings, representsthe terminal post of a storage battery, 11 in improved terminal clamp, and 12 a flexib e conductor which is electrically con-, .nectedto-the terminal post by the clamp, the conductor being connected to the clamp and the clamp to the post in the manner herein-.-

after e] lained. 4 v The c am 11 is preferabl --f ormed from I sheet metal avinga certain db e of spring or elasticity such-as sheet stee brass, phosgphor bronze or other suitable sheet metal," and in practice the clamp is prefera'blylead drawing together the end portions 14 and 15 the clamp on the terminalpost 10 and of securing the end of the conductor 12 to the clamp. In this instance anordinary screw is employed and the hole 15 is threaded but thumb nut may be employed, in which eyent neither hole need be threaded. Preferably the metal surrounding the hole 14 in the port-ion 14 of the clamp is countersunk as shown at 14*. to accommodate the head of the screw.

may be properly drawn together by the-screw 16 to. secure theclamp tothe 'post theyare provided outwardly beyond the screw with abutting portions and in this instance the tially the center line 0 the clamp as shown lip 15 adapted to bear against the 0 set portion of the part 14, k r Q" .gThe'free end'or ofl'set part 14 of 14 prothis ofifset part 14 is provided with ears 14" adapted to be bent around or .over the insulated part ofthe conductor 12. I In practice the; insulating part of theconductor rests upon the ofiset portion 14 of the free or bare end of the head of the-screw 16 as shown in the drawings. If desired, the head'of the screw may be undercut, forming an annular shoulder I -jcoated'ltoprevent corrosion. l f 1 he"cla'm is provided with a socket po'rtion 13, which is formed by bending a portion of"the stamping from which the clamp -ismade intosubstantially annular form, and additionally the clamp is provided with end- -portionsl4 and l 5-whichproject in substantial' parallelism from the body or socket por tion 13. The-socket portion 13 is generally tapered though it may be cylindrical." If 50- thetop of-thepost 10 is tapered, as is usually the case,"the socket portion 13 is tapered', but. if the is t9 be'fitted onto a cylindrical. postthe' et' ion cylindricaL- ---The" two en and 15; have resgng on the countersunk seatf14f... With portion 'o the conductor rests. upon the'de.

e part of the conductor is substantiall desi' ed to be clampedlby the screw. Preferab y there is an inclined. depression or cove 14 prdvided at the shoulder where t e ofiset' portion-14 joins-the main portion 14, this roove leading :to the countersunk seat and orming efl'ect a guideway for-the endofwthe conductor. 1 7 f it be seenthat with one-screw In order that the end portions 14 and 15 at 14, and the part 15 has an inwardl turned adapted to bear solidly against, the conductor- I this arranfgement,'inasmuch as the insulated a transverse. clamping screw '16, which in this instance performs the double function of so as to tightly clamp'the socket -port ion of this is not essential as a small bolt with a v part 14 is bent or ,ofi'set inwardly to substanects outwardly beyond the lip 15 of 15, and

the' part 14 and conductor is on tended inwardly and is clamped beneath the.

gassed or offset portion of the part- 14, the

on aline with the seat 14; against which itis I the clamp is secured tothe post, andthe and of the condxictor is secured the vclamp, and with this single screw a very good electrical oonnection is made between the conductor ind At the same time, the clamp being 5 in form of a "stamping, can be produced inex vely, and is adapted for quantity p uction. o

Havin described my invention, I claim: In com ination, a storage battery terminal 10 post, a clamp having a spcket portion adaptedto encircle the post and having substantially parallel outstandin end porti0ns,,=a fastening device 'exten ing transversely throughsaid outstanding portions, one of said outstanding having its end bent inwardl to form an abutment and the other outsten g portion having an inwardly ofiset extension adapted to engage the abutment and pnoj ecting beyond the abutment, said ex;

, tension being iormedto embrace a conductor,

- VROBERT J. mGHTmeALEQ 

